CHISINAU (Reuters) – Moldova on Tuesday blocked access to more than 20 Russian media websites, saying they had been used as part of an information war against the country.
An Intelligence and Security Service decree published online listed 22 Russian news resources to be blocked, including prominent ones such as Russia Today, NTV, Ren TV, state media holding VGTRK and others.
The decree, which is likely to anger Moscow, said internet providers had been ordered to block the sites immediately. Some of them still worked when checked by a Reuters reporter in Chisinau following the announcement.
There was no immediate comment from the Russian authorities.
Moldova restricted TV broadcasts of Russia-produced news, analytical and military-related content in June 2022 following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine earlier that year, allowing only entertainment shows and movies.
Ex-Soviet Moldova’s relations with Moscow have deteriorated rapidly during the full-scale war launched by Russia in neighbouring Ukraine.
Pro-European President Maia Sandu denounced the invasion, and has since accused Moscow of plotting a coup against her government and trying to destabilise the country. Moscow rejects that and accuses Moldova of pursuing an anti-Russian agenda.
(Reporting by Aleksandr Tanas; writing by Yuliia Dysa; editing by Tom Balmforth, Kirsten Donovan)
